references
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment
Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.
A cool tea bag may be able to stop itchy bug bites in their tracks.
Image Credit: Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Moment/GettyImages
Image Credit: Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Moment/GettyImages
When a mosquito bites you, some of its saliva enters your skin as it feasts on your blood. Your body actually has an immune reaction to some of the proteins in the saliva, similar to as if you had an allergic reaction, explains Kevin McGrath, MD, an allergist in Wethersfield, Connecticut and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. As a result, over the next several hours, you’ll notice a gradual onset of swelling, itching and redness. Most of the time, this is nothing more than an annoyance. But some people have a more intense reaction that includes a large area of swelling and redness, as well as other symptoms like a mild fever, hives and swollen lymph nodes (this phenomenon is often known as Skeeter Syndrome). This type of response usually improves over time, but it may take longer — up to 10 days, notes Dr. McGrath.
Most of the time, this is nothing more than an annoyance. But some people have a more intense reaction that includes a large area of swelling and redness, as well as other symptoms like a mild fever, hives and swollen lymph nodes (this phenomenon is often known as Skeeter Syndrome). This type of response usually improves over time, but it may take longer — up to 10 days, notes Dr. McGrath.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment
